Fire Restrictions coming to the Tahoe July 28th

[Tinman]

Since many of you probably don't read the stickies I'm posting this here too.

Got an e-mail from the TNF. Fire restrictions will be going into effect on July 28th. I'm working on getting specific information but I would imagine the usual stuff. No campfires in the back country. Watch where you smoke. Welding and chainsaw restrictions possibly.

[Tinman]

Saw this in the Mercury News and thought I'd pass it along:

Fire danger extreme for Northern California
By Mike Taugher
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 07/27/2009 04:39:17 PM PDT
Updated: 07/28/2009 08:43:02 AM PDT



High fire danger signs warn visitors entering the North Gate entrance to Mt. Diablo State Park...«123»After a slow start, the fire season in California could still be a barnburner, according to a new forecast.

Fire officials say late spring rains and relatively mild weather this summer have disguised the fact that three consecutive dry years have left Northern California's woods drier than normal — even though this year was wetter than last year.

Now, with the onset of hotter weather, fire fuels are drying out, dying back and increasing the potential for fires to get big enough to ignite the big trees and logs that are exceptionally dry.

"Northern California is basically under extreme fire risk," said Ron Neilson, a bioclimatologist for the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station and a botany professor at Oregon State University.

At Mt. Diablo State Park, the fire danger was increased Monday from moderate to high.

"We're always concerned," said supervising ranger Dan Steafanisko. "Obviously, it's drought conditions."

The Bay Area, the coastal mountains to the south, the northern Sierra Nevada and the Trinity Alps all still face a potentially major fire threat, Neilson said.

Neilson's forecast will be incorporated into predictions used by the U.S. Forest Service.

So far, the fire season has been exceptionally mild. On California's private and state-owned lands, only 13,400 acres have burned this year. That is just 10 percent of average for the past five years and 1/25th of the 347,000
acres that burned by this date last year on private and state lands, according to CalFire.

Still, fire officials are nowhere near calling off the season, which usually extends well into the fall.

"Northern California and the coastal region are at a higher potential for fire this year," said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for CalFire. "The stage has been set for another busy fire season."

The missing ingredient so far has been wind, Berlant said.

Also, California's fire season typically comes late.

"A lot of people think that July and August are the peak for fire season, when historically September and October have been our most damaging for fires," said Berlant. The 1991 Oakland hills fire raged in October, for example, and the worst of the Southern California fires in recent years have also been in the fall. Neilson, whose fire-prediction model is a spinoff from climate change modeling used by international and California scientists studying global warming, said there is a potential for increased lightning this summer in parts of the West. The onset of an El Niño pattern and a shift in a longer-term ocean temperature pattern could combine to increase lightning strikes.

"Our computer models are pretty accurate at determining the vegetation, moisture and climatic conditions that set the stage for fire, but can't always predict whether or not something will actually light them," Neilson said.

Jason Kirchner, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service, said firefighters are well rested this year and firefighting equipment is available because of the mild summer season.

[fermentor]

Originally Posted by Tinman

Since many of you probably don't read the stickies I'm posting this here too.

Got an e-mail from the TNF. Fire restrictions will be going into effect on July 28th. I'm working on getting specific information but I would imagine the usual stuff. No campfires in the back country. Watch where you smoke. Welding and chainsaw restrictions possibly.

Press release in today's Sacramento Bee:

Fire restrictions start today after weather raises danger

Published: Tuesday, Jul. 28, 2009 - 12:00 am | Page 2B

Fire restrictions are in effect in the Tahoe National Forest beginning today.

"Recent hot, dry and windy weather has increased fire danger," Judie Tartaglia, deputy forest supervisor, said in a news release.

She urged campers to fully extinguish campfires before leaving a site, as abandoned campfires are the primary source of human-caused fires in the forest.

Under the restrictions:

• Campfires and barbecues are permitted only in designated campgrounds, in the grill or fire rings provided.

• Smoking is permitted only in an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site or in a 3-foot area cleared of all flammable material.

• Internal-combustion engines may be operated only on roads, trails or at the Prosser Pit Off-Highway Vehicle Area in Truckee.

• Possession of fireworks is illegal.

• In the backcountry, portable stoves and gas barbecues are permitted with a valid campfire permit.

Permits are free and may be obtained at any U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection office.

For more information, go to www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/.

[Tinman]

Told you so. Ha ha

[fermentor]

Originally Posted by Tinman

Told you so. Ha ha

Indeed you did Miss Cleo

Got a couple of extra weeks this year anyway.........

[Tinman]

Too bad it couldn't have waited a few more weeks. It would have been nice for the Trek winch hill crews to be able to enjoy a nice campfire at night.

[Tinman]

No surprises:
Contact: Ann Westling
(530) 478-6205
July 27, 2009
Fire Restrictions Go Into Effect on July 28 in the Tahoe National Forest

Nevada City…..Judie Tartaglia, Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Tahoe National Forest announces that fire restrictions will go into effect beginning July 28, Tuesday. “Recent hot, dry, and windy weather has increased fire danger,” said Tartaglia. “Many of our fire indices show that we are above historic fire conditions for this time of year and thus the need for fire restrictions. Abandoned campfires are the primary source of human-caused fires in the Tahoe National Forest. Please do your part by fully extinguishing a fire before you leave your campsite,” concluded Tartaglia.

Under these restrictions:
• Campfires and charcoal barbeques are only permitted in designated campgrounds and other recreation sites (in the metal rings/grills provided).
• Smoking is only permitted in an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site or in a 3-foot area cleared of all flammable material.
• Internal combustion engines including OHVs can only be operated on roads or trails except for the Prosser Pit Off-Highway Vehicle Area.
• Possession of fireworks is illegal.
• In the backcountry, portable stoves and propane-type barbeques, including those that use gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are permitted with a valid campfire permit. Campfire permits are free and can be obtained at any Forest Service, BLM or CALFIRE office.

“If you come across an abandoned campfire, please help us by putting it “dead out” and then reporting its location to the nearest ranger station,” stated Tartagalia. To report an abandoned campfire or for more specific district information, contact the Forest Service offices in Sierraville (530) 994-3401, Truckee (530) 587-3558, Camptonville (530) 288-3231, Foresthill (530) 367-2224, and Nevada City (530) 265-4531.

The personal wood cutting program this year will continue to operate as long as individuals have a valid woodcutting permit and follow the conditions on the permit.

For more information on recreation opportunities or fire restrictions in the TNF, log onto the website at www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/.

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